Every few months, the automotive media pops in to check on the status of the unique upstart, Mobius Motors. Now in its fourth year of preproduction structuring, the would-be automaker based in Nairobi, Kenya is inching ever closer towards getting wheels on the ground. Founded by British expat Joel Jackson, Mobius Motors hopes to address the limited transportation options available in Kenya. For years, unrealistic tariffs on imported vehicles have made it virtually impossible for the average Kenyan to own reliable transportation. Since import tariffs don’t apply to individual vehicle components, the solution is obvious––build in country.
Because the average Kenyan household earns less than $1,000 per year, the biggest challenge is making the Mobius Motors vehicle affordable. To that end, the Mobius Two as it has been branded, is about as basic as a vehicle can get. Constructed on a tubular frame, it has leaf springs in the rear, coil suspension up front, nine inches of clearance, and is propelled by a simple 1.6 liter engine. Available only with front wheel drive, it seats eight with “features” not part of the design process. It uses slam-latches in lieu of door handles just to list one of the many appiointments it does not have. To say it is basic is being generous, but then again the mission is to provide affordable, reliable, and durable transportation to the average Kenyan.
The start-up journey for Mobius Motors has been as bumpy as an African road. Sourcing parts has not been without challenges, and funding has been thin. However, the project is gaining some modest momentum with the first 50 vehicles slated to go into production in the coming months. The price of the Mobius Two has slowly climbed from the initial target price of $6,000 to nearly $10,000. That may prove to be the undoing of the Mobius Two. It may not have achieved its number one objective––affordability.
